Grandmaster Flash

USA, 1975–now

American DJ (b. 1958, Joseph Saddler, Barbados). A key innovator of hip-hop turntablism who developed and codified quick-mix theory — precise, on-beat cutting between two copies of a record — and popularized backspinning and the cross-fader. Led Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.

MusicRoots documents 3 artists who influenced Grandmaster Flash and 1 artist Grandmaster Flash influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Grandmaster Flash?

• DJ Kool Herc — Flash studied Kool Herc's breakbeat DJing in the South Bronx parks and built his quick-mix theory on Herc's Merry-Go-Round break technique.
• Pete DJ Jones — Flash was a student of Pete DJ Jones and learned to cue a record on a mixer from watching him spin.
• Grandmaster Flowers — Flowers was among the established New York DJs Flash studied as a teenager.

Which artists did Grandmaster Flash influence?

• Grand Wizzard Theodore — Theodore was Grandmaster Flash's student, learning quick-mix theory from him before inventing the scratch.